Community leaders from across Arkansas and surrounding states will gather at the University of Central Arkansas from July 29 – August 2 for the annual Community Development Institute. This year’s theme is Sustain, Transform, and Empower Your Community.

Established in 1987, the Community Development Institute-Central (CDI) trains community and economic development professionals through a combination of lectures, small group discussions, simulations and individual projects, each focused on best practices and current trends in the industry.

The most notable additions to this year’s CDI are two new simulations, the Futures Game Simulation and Miller County Simulation, each designed as eye-opening experiences through unique hands-on learning activities.

Participants leave the institute with an enhanced ability to assess their community, build the capacity of community leaders to collaborate on development efforts, and set goals to improve their community’s quality of life and place.

Mayor Gary Baxtor, CDI Class of 2013 believes his experiences at CDI have provided him with the tools to bring economic development and community development together. “After attending CDI Central for two years, I have taken back to my community valuable ideas and techniques that I have put into action, some almost immediately,” said Mayor Baxtor.

The complete CDI experience is a three-year training program, with one week of training per year. Participants progress through the program curriculum in cohorts and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development.

Community Education classes have been selected for the fall! Many of your favorites are back and a handful of new classes will help feed the need to learn something new. Full course descriptions and registration will be available online starting in June. Until then, you can check out the line-up!

Health

Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED NEW!

Beginning Tai Chi

Burn & Chisel

CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers NEW!

Family First Aid NEW!

Positive Vibration Reggae Yoga NEW!

Self-Hypnosis for Self-Help

Smart Cycling

Business & Finance

Entrepreneurship: Becoming a Businessperson

Entrepreneurship: Developing Your Plan NEW!

How to Write a Business Plan

Resources for Starting a Small Business

Project Management Practical Application NEW!

Tending to Your Money Tree

Art

Cake Decorating 1

Cake Decorating 2

Cake Decorating 3

Ceramic Hand Building 1

Ceramic Hand Building 2

Ceramic Hand Building: Dinner for Two

Painting in Acrylics 1

Painting in Acrylics 2

Photography: Basics

Photography: Advanced

Sew Unique Sewing- Beginner

Sew Unique Sewing- Intermediate

Technology

Arkansas Hunters’ Education

Computer Cleanup

Introduction to Computer Programming

Web Development: Beginner

Web Development: Advanced

Lifestyle

The Alzheimer’s Journey

Baby’s First Massage NEW!

Basics of Disaster Preparedness

Basic Horsemanship and Beginning Riding

Etiquette 101 for Children

Nurturing the Pregnant Couple NEW!

Pre-register by phone.

If you would like to pre-register for any of these courses and reserve your seat, please call Lawana Hawkins at 501-450-5811.

Would you like to receive our catalog?

For those of your interested in receiving our catalog via mail, fill out a catalog request form! You can also select the option to sign up for our mailing list and be the first to know when registration opens online.

The “Exploring Our World,” lecture series continues with three new Spring offerings: Conway’s Creative Approach to Battling Obesity Through Active Infrastructure; Persons in the World: Perspectives on Human Ecology, East and West; Women in the World: Pornography, Abuse and Sexualization of Young Girls; and Ain’t I a Man: If I Act Like a Women and Think Like a Man?

The series kicks off April 5th with Conway’s Creative Approach to Battling Obesity Through Active Infrastructure Projects and Programs. Dr. Duston Morris, Assistant Faculty in the Department of Sciences at UCA, will share information on current projects within the Conway community designed to stimulate physical activity through the utilization of active infrastructure. Topics of discussions include: the impact of active infrastructure on healthy lifestyle characteristics, developing active infrastructure plans, and how to promote that infrastructure to Conway residents.

All lectures within the Exploring Our World series are open to the public and no cost to attend. For more information, visit uca.edu/world or call 501.450.5261. Participants are advised to sign up early.

The new Spring 2012 Outreach Catalog is available online!! Some will receive a printed catalog in the mail soon however, if you do not receive one, you can always request a printed catalog and we will be happy to mail it to you. You will find information about some exciting new courses such as Dance Fit Line Dancing and Sign Language for Babies. Also, cake decorating is back for all of you who love to make cakes!! Of course, old favorites such as Photography and Burn & Chisel are all available as well as great freebie courses such as How to Start a Small Business, Employment Outlook and the Arkansas Boaters Education course.

For those who are still struggling with what to give your loved ones this Christmas, make sure to purchase a Community Education gift certificate! It is a unique gift that they will never forget!